The Design of Miniature Frequency Reconfigurable Antenna Based on Inductive Loading Technology

Abstract

A circularly polarized (CP) and frequency reconfigurable microstrip antenna with loading inductive is presented in this paper. The designed antenna is comprised of a radiating patch, four short-circuited grounded metal posts, and four coupling branches. Each coupling branch has an end that is coupled to the shorted ground post and is also connected to the parasitic branches by means of a group of PIN diodes. By controlling the state of the PIN diodes connected to each parasitic branch, the working resonant frequency of the antenna can be changed. In order to further understand the mechanisms of operation of the antenna, the equivalent circuit model was built, and the circuit model of the antenna was analyzed, and this analysis was used for the development of the frequency reconfigurable microstrip patch antenna. Furthermore, the parameters of specific equivalent circuits can be solved by the three lengths of branch. Meanwhile, the calculated results derived from the given resonant frequency formula for the antenna are in good agreement with the simulation results of the antenna. Simulated results for the input impedance of the antenna are also in good agreement with the calculated values for the equivalent circuit. Finally, the antenna is fabricated and measured, and the measured results show that the antenna can not only achieve frequency reconfiguration at 1.14 GHz, 1.21 GHz, and 1.39 GHz but also accord well with the simulation value, while maintaining a compact size.